The Bird of Society.
The blackbirds make the maples ring
With social cheer and jubilee;
The redwing flutes his o-ka-lee.--EMERSON.
The much abused and persecuted Red Wing Black Bird is found throughout
North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific; and it breeds more
or less abundantly wherever found. In New England it is generally
migratory, though instances are on record where a few have been known
to remain throughout the winter in Massachusetts. Passing, in January,
through the lower counties of Virginia, one frequently witnesses the
aerial evolutions of great numbers of these birds. Sometimes they appear
as if driven about like an enormous black cloud carried before the wind,
varying every moment in shape. Sometimes they rise suddenly from the
fields with a noise like thunder, while the glittering of innumerable
wings of the brightest vermillion, amid the black cloud, occasion a very
striking effect. At times the whole congregated multitude will suddenly
alight in some detached grove and commence one general concert, that can
plainly be distinguished at the distance of more than two miles. With
the Redwings the whole winter season seems one continued carnival. They
find abundant food in the old fields of rice, buckwheat and grain, and
much of their time is spent in aerial movements, or in grand vocal
performances.
The Redwings, for their nest, always select either the borders of
streams or low marshy situations, amongst thick bunches of reeds. One
nest was found built on a slender sapling at the distance of fourteen
feet from the ground. The nest was pensile, like that of the Baltimore
Oriole.
They have from one to three or more broods in a season, according to
locality.
In the grain growing states they gather in immense swarms and commit
havoc, and although they are shot in great numbers, and though their
ranks are thinned by the attacks of hawks, it seems to have but little
effect upon the survivors.
On the other hand, these Black Birds more than compensate the farmer
for their mischief by the benefit they confer in the destruction of grub
worms, caterpillars, and various kinds of larvae, the secret and deadly
enemies of vegetation. It has been estimated the number of insects
destroyed by these birds in a single season, in the United States, to
be twelve thousand millions.
The eggs average about an inch in length. They are oval in shape, have a
light bluish ground, and are marbled, lined and blotched with markings
of light and dark purple and black.